One year later - this is what a year of cancer looks like

IMG_2242.JPG

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning. - Unknown. 

 

 

 

 

I've tried really hard to find the right words to share what this week means to me but I'm falling short. 

What I really want to say is thank you. 

Thank you for supporting me and holding me up when I was unable to do so on my own. 

Thank you for allowing me to be so raw and authentic and feel safe to bare my soul during this difficult time.

Thank you for laughing with me while I'd find my way out of the darkness and back into my funny and sassy self. 

Thank you for all the notes, messages, comments, flowers, gifts, dinners, prayers, good thoughts, energy, and most importantly, love. 

I truly would not have been able to do the last year without you. 

I don't know what the future holds and to be honest, whatever comes my way I know I'll handle it just the same. 

Often you read that difficult times will make sense down the road. I'm not sure if that is always the case. Some situations just never make sense. However, I know for me, it is. All of this is starting to make just a little more sense. 

Most importantly though, this last year has taught me just how important it is to have faith and to be okay with asking for help. 

I did my best to document the year in photos. One thing was consistent, as much pain I was in, I often found myself smiling. A lot. And that felt really nice. 

To many healthy years ahead. 

This is what a year of cancer looked like. 


A few days after being diagnosed...a love of my life found his way into my heart. 

Cancer1.jpg
Rockyhoe.JPG
tests.jpg

I had a real life Grey's Anatomy experience with a room full of interns...

surgery.JPG
hospital.JPG
drugs.JPG
gettingoutofhospital.JPG
aftersurgery2.jpg
aftersurgery.JPG

I was surrounded by love and friends who give uplifting gifts that make your stitches hurt from laughing...

postop.jpg

Family came to visit and take care of me and I got the most amazing one-on-one time with my sis-in-law...

postsurgery.jpg

And my older bro...never finished that chicken coop though :) 

building.JPG
brother.jpg
radiation.JPG

I had lots of pokes, prods, needles and procedures. So many. 

postsurgery2.jpg
18814523_10213404833654965_2359627346154108052_o.jpg

But I had my first art opening...

gallery.JPG

And a trip to Joshua Tree...

18699619_10213365190943922_1800185657855396554_o.jpg

And a drive north to Seattle...

19059428_10213532312921867_78821172282109542_n.jpg

To be with the three other loves of my life...

19222734_10213594646000155_5514057459312020612_o.jpg
meoncology.jpg

I walked into my first day of treatment ready to face it all...

firsttreament.jpg

And then flew to Miami a few days into treatment and found a few days of solitude...

20247907_10214013954282600_8567194805697125615_o.jpg
20287154_10214054086565882_7522990067825696440_o.jpg

My favorite part was crossing each treatment off...

Treatment.jpg

And just like that, six weeks, five days a week...was finished. 

20785708_10214221594033464_7986963759214097989_o.jpg

And I turned that page...

turnthepage.jpg

And took myself to Idyllwild for my birthday, rented a little cabin in the woods and hiked for the first time since treatment ended...

21318943_10214413730676760_8572614321195968936_o.jpg

Sadly, I lost the other love of my life. 10 1/2 years together and I will never forget his love. 

Oliver.JPG

And I met my women for our Red Tent. I didn't leave this spot all weekend. 

22769918_10214799041549291_7442806606730188101_o.jpg

Spent Christmas with my soul sister...

55254FCE-EC17-4C6B-9453-E9C6400DC345.JPG

And enjoyed life.

27983239_10215851476339503_2881806879159489695_o.jpg

that's a wrap